“There are people who continuously look for conflict. Walk away; the battle they are fighting isn’t with you, it’s with themselves.” Unknown

We all have to deal with difficult people at some point in our lives… but what can be the most challenging is learning how to deal with negative energy from one of our closest family members.

At times, it may not be easy to achieve a balance between a sense of compassion without being dragged into their negativity, which is why I’d like to share with you 5 simple tips how to deal with negative family members.

Tip 1. Accept Them For Who They Are
It may not be easy to offer compassion to someone you feel resentment towards, but trying to understand their feelings and ultimately accepting them for who they are, will help you feel better when you’re around them.

Tip 2. Create Positive Boundaries
Make sure you’re giving them enough space and that you set your own boundaries by staying positive or neutral. Visualizing a protective energy around yourself will also help you feel stronger if you can’t put distance between you and your family member.

Tip 3. Be Aware Of Your Need To Control
You can’t control other people’s negativity or opinions, so resist the urge to argue if your family member triggers a negative energy inside of you. It isn’t your job to fix everyone’s problems, so instead of being apart of the problem by feeding it with more emotions, disengage by remaining calm and let yourself be a witness, not a participant.

Tip 4. Try to Learn From Them
There’s always something to learn from any situation, and negative family members can be great spiritual teachers as they can help to show you what you’re holding on to. So don’t waste the opportunity to learn from these situations.

Tip 5. Always Nurture Yourself
This may be the most important tip of all. Remember that by nurturing yourself and your self-confidence, YOU will become stronger!

Tap into your compassion to find inner peace and don’t forget to foster the relationships that lift you up and bring you the most happiness in your life!